A great little cafe in the heart of Pilsen, just southwest of the Loop, the Jumping Bean is ideal for watching the colorful ebb and flow of daily life in this vibrant Mexican-American neighborhood. It serves up the usual espresso drinks, muffins, and pastries, but it also offers decent salads, cheesecakes, natural vegetable and fruit juices, and -- best of all -- a tantalizing selection of licuados, a Mexican version of the American shake, which is made with milk, sugar, ice, and fresh fruit (try the mango). The artistic doings outside, characterized by colorful outdoor murals on building walls, spill over into the cafe, which features rotating exhibitions of paintings and hand-painted tables by local artists. The place even hosts live flamenco music and poetry readings in Spanish. Everyone is welcome, from families with little kids to the loft-dwelling artists who've lately infiltrated Pilsen.